Busy weekend ahead for Beach event goers

January 16, 2013

There are at least three events being offered on Fort Myers Beach on Saturday for those who like to move around a lot or enjoy diversity in their weekend plans.

There will be a baseball clinic for youth, a putt and pub crawl benefit for adults (sold out for competition) and a do wop festival for the young at heart. Pick one or go to all three events. Here is a listing for each:

TO GO BOX

What: Twins Youth Clinic

When: Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, from 1-3 p.m.

Where: Bay Oaks ballpark

- Free baseball/ softball clinic at Bay Oaks

The Fort Myers Beach Little League is kicking off 2013 with a free Play Ball! Minnesota Twins Youth Clinic for baseball and softball players at Bay Oaks ballpark on Saturday, Jan. 19, from 1-3 p.m.

In partnership with Great River Energy, Minnesota Youth Clinics are designed to teach basic fundamentals including hitting, fielding and throwing, while also providing participants with positive messages about staying in school and away from drugs and alcohol.

No registration is required to participate in this clinic.

The clinics provide quality hands-on instruction for boys and girls ages 6-16. The clinic is divided into two 1-1/2 hour sessions. The first session is for youth ages 6-9 years old and the second session is for youth ages 10-16 years old. Participants are divided into three groups and rotated between hitting, fielding and throwing stations.

The Play Ball! Minnesota Youth Clinics instructors have a combined 200-plus years of baseball coaching/playing experience. The staff is comprised of former players, coaches, scouts and teachers. Teams of three to four instructors will travel to and administer each clinic.

Created in 1961 by longtime Twins scout Angelo Giuliani, the clinic program provides a way for the ball club to promote the games of baseball and softball to boys and girls throughout the region. Since the program's inception, more than 800,000 youth have taken part in Twins clinics in the Upper Midwest and Southwest Florida.

Twins General Manager Terry Ryan and former Twins executive Bob Gebhard developed the current clinic format, which focuses on throwing, hitting and fielding. The Play Ball! Minnesota Youth Clinics have always been, and will continue to be, available to participants and communities free of charge. The Twins Community Fund and Great River Energy provide the funding for the Play Ball! Minnesota Youth Clinics.

TO GO BOX

What: Putt & Pub Crawl (sold out)

When: Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Where: Santini Marina Plaza

- Putt and crawl fundraiser

The third annual Putt & Pub Crawl will tee off on its nine watering-hole course at 10 a.m. and benefit the Fort Myers Beach Friends of the Arts, a 501(3)C nonprofit organization. The four-person team must complete the nine holes before 4:30 p.m.

Registration will be held at a table outside Nervous Nellies from 9 to 11 a.m. on the day of the event. If interested, Yucatan Beach Stand will serve breakfast from 9 to 10 a.m. and donate proceeds to the cause.

The Lani Kai Beach Resort will act as the "10th hole" and will provide dinner and entertainment by "Habitat for Hummanity" from 4 to 7 p.m. at its rooftop Island View Restaurant. From 5:30 to 6 p.m., prizes will be awarded to the first- and second-place teams, the duffer's award for the worst score and to the best-dressed team. A judge's award and people's choice award will be awarded to winning hole sponsors.

FMB Friends of the Arts will provide volunteers to aid in the event. Scorecards should be turned in at the Lani Kai no later than 5 p.m.

Raffles, drink specials and 50/50 chances are offered at each of the hole sponsors.

The team limit for the event has already been met for this year's event.

TO GO BOX

What: Do Wop Festival

When: Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Santini Marina Plaza

- Do Wop Festival brings back time

Santini Marina Plaza will host a Do Wop Festival featuring an arts and crafts street market and a fresh seafood/fruit and veggie market at its 7225 Estero Blvd. location on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Forty arts and crafts vendors and the restaurants of Santini will vend articles and food. DJ Larry will be spinning 1950s music all day long.

There will be a jitterbug contest at noon and a best 1950s outfit competition at 1 p.m. Hot Flashz dancers will perform at 2 p.m.